Combined pneumatic and gravity hopper gate controlled outlet

ABSTRACT

A combined pneumatic and gravity outlet mechanism is provided for hoppers such as those incorporated in railway hopper cars. The pneumatic discharge mechanism comprises a pair of lading receiving conduits having openings communicating with opposite sides of the hopper outlet adjacent the sliding gate and converging at their ends in a discharge nozzle. An improved dampering system includes separate dampers in each conduit to permit effective adjustment of the distribution of negative pressure between the respective conduits. Throughout their lengths the conduits are of substantially uniform cross section and angular intersections where the conduit changes direction are eliminated. The gravity discharge mechanism comprises a horizontally sliding gate, controlled by a toggle arrangement connected to the gate in its central region to reduce the likelihood of cocking of the gate during opening or closing movements, and having a geared drive to provide greater pulling forces on the gate.

United States Patent Fuller COMBINED PNEUMATIC AND GRAVITY HOPPER GATE CONTROLLED OUTLET [75] Inventor: Oliver C. Fuller, Woodstock, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Evans Products Company, Des

Plaines, ill.

[22] Filed: Apr. 25, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 464,046

[52] US. Cl 105/282 R; [OS/304; 302/52 [51] Int. Cl B6ld 7/20; Bold 7/26; 865g 53/46 [58] Field of Search 105/282 P, 282 R, 305, 105/304; 302/52 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,048,042 l2/l9l2 Coleman 105/282 R 2,640,440 6/l953 Dorey l05/305 3,174,807 3/1965 Adler 302/52 3,l94,l44 7/1965 Van der Linden et al, 302/52 X 3,343,887 9/l967 McNamara 302/52 3,742,865 7/l973 Adler l05/282 R Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Howard Beltran Attorney, Agent, or Firm-F. Travers Burgess June 10, 1975 i i ABSTRACT A combined pneumatic and gravity outlet mechanism is provided for hoppers such as those incorporated in railway hopper cars. The pneumatic discharge mechanism comprises a pair of lading receiving conduits having openings communicating with opposite sides of the hopper outlet adjacent the sliding gate and converging at their ends in a discharge nozzle. An improved dampering system includes separate dampers in each conduit to permit effective adjustment of the distribution of negative pressure between the respective conduits. Throughout their lengths the conduits are of substantially unifonn cross section and angular intersections where the conduit changes direction are eliminated. The gravity discharge mechanism comprises a horizontally sliding gate, controlled by a toggle arrangement connected to the gate in its central region to reduce the likelihood of cooking of the gate during opening or closing movements, and having a geared drive to provide greater pulling forces on the gate.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION:

Reference is made to an earlier application by the present inventor, filed Oct. 13, 1972, Ser. No. 297,493, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,046 issued Feb. II, 1975 in which a similar gravity discharge gate operating mechal nism is disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

1. Field of the Invention:

The invention relates to discharge outlets for hoppers of railway cars and the like and consists particularly in a combined pneumatic and gravity discharge mechanism.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

In previously known combination gravity and pneumatic hopper outlets, the pneumatic conduits have been of irregular, varied cross section, both in shape and area and have had sharp angular intersections whenever they change direction. This construction is extremely difficult to manufacture and, because of the differences in crosssectional shape and area, has very poor flow characteristics, with considerable turbulence at the angular intersections and points where the cross sections change, accompanied by tendencies of the lading to become congested at the intersections and in regions where the cross section is reduced. Such outlets of the prior art provided with toggle operated sliding gates have the toggle link connected to one end of the gate and the toggle is commonly actuated by a capstan or lever-socket directly mounted on a toggle link. The connection of the toggle link to one end ofthe gate produces a tendency to cock the gate as it is being pushed to closed position by the toggle, requiring additional anticocking means, and the direct application of the opening and closing forces from the operating lever to the toggle link may require excessive application of manual force if the lading is tightly packed in the hop per outlet and against the gate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

The invention provides a combined pneumatic and gravity discharge mechanism for hoppers in which the pneumatic discharge mechanism has improved flow characteristics and reduced likelihood of blockage by reason of the use of pneumatic conduits of uniform cross section throughout their lengths and the elimination of angular intersections where they change direction. Preferably the cross section is circular to achieve maximum efficiency and simplicity and reduced expense of construction, utilizing standard pipe sections and elbows.

The invention also provides an improved dampering means for more effectively adjusting the distribution of suction between the respective pneumatic conduits.

In the gravity mechanism, tendencies of the gate to cock during closure are reduced by connecting the operating toggle line to the central region of the gate and opening of the gate even under the most tightly packed or congealed lading is facilitated by providing a geared drive for the toggle mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. I is a plan view of a hopper outlet assembly incorporating the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. I.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of the geared drive of O the toggle mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

A rectangular hopper which may form part of a railway car, storage bin, or highway truck, arranged for the transportation or storage of particulate or pulverulent material, has sloping side sheets I and end sheets 3 and 5 which define, by their respective lower edges 7, 8 and 9, a rectangular opening.

The hopper outlet structure includes a support frame having a pair of longitudinally extending transversely spaced structural channels II. At one end, channels 11 are connected by a transverse sloping discharge plate 13 and at their other end are connected by a transverse channel member 15 to form a longitudinally elongated support frame.

The hopper outlet comprises a pair of longitudinally extending V-section members 17 each secured along one margin to the upper surface of one of the channels I] with one of its flanges vertical and the other outwardly sloping to underlap the lower margin of the respective hopper side sheet I. The ends of the hopper outlet are formed by transversely extending standard pipe sections I9 and 21, which are secured at their ends to the upper surfaces of channels I1. Sloping flat bars 23 and 25, secured respectively to pipe sections 19 and 23, are spaced apart longitudinally of the structure and sloped such that they underlap the lower margins of hopper end sheets 3 and 5 respectively.

The outlet opening defined by members 17, and pipes 19 and 21 is closed by a gate plate 27 which is slidably mounted on the upper surface of channels II for movement longitudinally therealong between an outlet closing and an outlet opening position. To accommodate gate 27 the bottom part of its lower righthand quadrant is removed, as at 29, and the upper edge of sloping discharge plate I3 is secured to the bottom edge of the pipe, and the lower portions of both lower quadrants of pipe 21 are removed, as at 31, to permit sliding of the gate thereunder.

Preferably gate 27 is mounted and operated in the same manner as that disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 297,493, to which reference has been made previously herein, and includes toggle mechanism including a link 33, the forward end of which is pivoted at 35 to the central region of gate 27, as indicated at C, and is preferably near the geometric center of the gate. A relatively short link 37 is pivoted at its outer end 39 to the support frame end channel 15 and at its inner end is pivoted at 38 to the righthand end of link 33. The pivot connection between links 33 and 37 includes a capstan 41 with a series of radial recesses 43 which selectively receive the end of a detachable manually operated lever which may be inserted and operated from either side of the hopper. When the capstan is rotated the toggle links are shifted between the full line and either dotted line position shown in FIG. I and the gate is moved accordingly.

In order to facilitate opening of the gate under conditions requiring application of excessive manual force to capstan 41, e.g., when the lading is congealed or tightly packed against the gate, a gear 45 is mounted on the upper end of pivot 39, and outwardly extending bracket 47 on channel pivotally mounts at a smaller gear or pinion 51, on which is mounted a small capstan 53, the gear ratio of which is 2:1. In the event more force is required to move the gate than can be readily applied directly through capstan 41, the lever may be manually inserted in capstan 51, so as to utilize the mechanical advantage produced by gear 45 and pinion 51 in actuating the toggle.

In addition to the gravity unloading effected by opening gate 27, a pneumatic unloading system is provided for unloading where pneumatic conveying equipment is available. The pneumatic unloading system utilizes pipes 19 and 21 as lading receiving conduits, openings 29 and 31 therein being of sufficient size to provide lading intake slots defined by the upper surface of the gate 27 and the upper edges of openings 29 and 31. It will be noted that the lading intake openings are located outwardly from the inner margins of bars 23 and so as not to interfere with gravity unloading of the hopper when the gate is opened.

For introducing suction to lading receiving conduits l9 and 21, converging suction conduits 55 and 56 are connected respectively to the opposite ends of lading receiving conduits 19 and 21 and at their converging ends merge at 57 and 58 into transversely extending cylindrical nozzle members 59, the inner ends of which are closed by walls. The outer end portions of nozzle members 61 are formed with an annular flange spaced inwardly from their outer ends, and cup-shaped covers are hinged at 67 to flanges 65 with a screw-type swinging latch mounted on flange 65 to lock the caps in sealing engagement, through a suitable gasket with flange 65, or to permit the caps to be swung about hinge 67 to a position clear of the outer nozzle forming ends of nozzle members 59.

To facilitate the introduction of suction into the lading receiving conduits 19 and 21 and the flow oflading from the lading receiving conduits through the suction conduits 55 and 56 to nozzle members 59 suction conduits 55 and 56 are constructed of the same inside diameter pipe as are lading receiving conduits 19 and 21 and are connected to lading receiving elements by elbows of the same inside diameter as the pipe sections so as to present a smooth interior surface of uniform circular cross section without angular intersections at the changes in direction between the lading receiving and suction conduits.

To provide improved dampering. and thereby eliminate pneumatic short-circuiting, dampers 75 are mounted in each of the suction conduits 55 and 56 on vertical shafts 77 journaled in the conduit walls near elbows 73 and the shafts 77 are bent at their upper ends to form horizontal operating arms 79, which are pivotally connected at their outer ends, at 81, to transverse operating bars 83 so as to be held parallel to each other constantly, the dampers 75 at one side (the lower in FIG. 1) being mounted perpendicular to the operating shafts 79 and at the other side (the upper in FIG. 1) being mounted parallel to the operating shafts so that translation of either operating bar 83 causes identical positioning of both dampers in both suction conduits 55, 55 or 56, 56 under its controlv Operation of the device for gravity unloading is as follows: A hand lever may be inserted in capstan 41 to actuate the toggle linkage and thereby pull the gate to open position clear of the hopper outlet. If difficulty is encountered due to the nature of the lading, the hand lever may be inserted in capstan 53 to actuate pinion 51 and utilize the mechanical advantage of the gear ratio to rotate toggle link 37 about pivot 39 and thereby free gate 27 and pull it to open position, to permit gravity discharge of the lading from the hopper outlet. When the lading is fully discharged, the toggle linkage may be actuated by either capstan 41 or 53 to return the gate to closed position.

Operation of the device for pneumatic discharge is as follows: With gate 27 closed, one of the latches 69 is released, and the corresponding cap 65 is swung to the open position to permit application of a suction hose (not shown) to the corresponding nozzle 59. Suction is then applied through the nozzle and suction conduits 55 and 56. in which the dampers are open, equally to lading receiving conduits 19 and 21, causing the lading to be drawn, through openings 29 and 33, into conduits 19 and 21 from which it is drawn by suction through suction conduits 55 and 56. If conditions indicate the desirability of changing the distribution of suction between lading receiving conduits 19 and 21, this can be done by adjusting the settings of dampers 75 in suction conduits 55 and 56 by manipulation, respectively, of damper adjustment bars 83. In the event one of the lading intake openings, 29 or 33, is uncovered first, the corresponding dampers 75 in suction conduits 55 or 56 can be closed and dampers 75 in the other we tion conduit fully opened.

The details of the structure may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of those modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

1 claim:

1. Hopper discharge means comprising means form ing a downward discharge opening for a hopper having sloping walls, horizontal gate means closing said discharge opening, cylindrical pipes of uniform cross section disposed generally above said gate means and having their lower portions removed to accommodate the upper surface of said gate means and forming with said gate means parallel lading receiving conduits horizontally spaced apart and defining the opposite ends of said opening, said pipes being adapted to tangentially receive the sloping hopper walls irrespective of their angle of slope, the edges of said pipes adjacent said discharge opening being spaced above said gate to define, with the upper surface of the gate, lading inlet means in each of said lading receiving conduits and providing communication between said lading receiving conduits and said downward discharge opening, suction conduit means comprising additional pipes of the same cross section as said first-named pipes forming suction conduits individual to each lading receiving conduit, and common suction nozzle means connected to both said individual suction conduits, said suction conduits converging toward each other for connection to said nozzle means and being curved tangential to said lading re ceiving conduits whereby to avoid the formation of angular intersections and consequent creation of turbulence in said conduits.

2. Hopper discharge means according to claim 1 wherein said suction conduit means includes separate suction conduits connected to each end of said lading receiving conduits, and a pivoted damper in each said suction conduit near its connection with the corresponding lading receiving conduit, said dampers being arranged for actuation in unison.

3. Hopper discharge means according to claim 2 including common actuating means for both said dampers in the suction conduits connected to each lading receiving conduit.

4. Hopper discharge means according to claim 3 wherein said common actuating means comprises mounting shafts for said dampers, arms on said mounting shafts, and a transversely extending manually translatable bar pivotally connected to said arm for opening and closing both said dampers in unison.

5. Hopper discharge means according to claim 1 including a horizontal frame supporting said opening forming means, said gate being slidable longitudinally of said frame between an outlet-closing and an outletopen position, a pair of toggle links including a first link pivoted at one end to said gate and a second link pivoted at its one end to the end of said first link remote from said gate and at its other end to said frame, said links being substantially aligned in the direction of movement of said gate when said gate is closed, a gear mounted on said other end of said second link, a pinion pivoted to said frame and engaging said gear, and means for applying manual force to said pinion for rotating the same and thereby actuating said toggle links.

6. Hopper discharge means according to claim 5 wherein the pivoted connection of said one link to said gate is in the central region of said gate.

7. Hopper discharge means according to claim 5 wherein said last-named means comprises a leverreceiving socket on said pinion.

8. Hopper discharge means according to claim 7 including a capstan on said one end of said second link. i 

1. Hopper discharge means comprising means forming a downward discharge opening for a hopper having sloping walls, horizontal gate means closing said discharge opening, cylindrical pipes of uniform cross section disposed generally above said gate means and having their lower portions removed to accommodate the upper surface of said gate means and forming with said gate means parallel lading receiving conduits horizontally spaced apart and defining the opposite ends of said opening, said pipes being adapted to tangentially receive the sloping hopper walls irrespective of their angle of slope, the edges of said pipes adjacent said discharge opening being spaced above said gate to define, with the upper surface of the gate, lading inlet means in each of said lading receiving conduits and providing communication between said lading receiving conduits and said downward discharge opening, suction conduit means comprising additional pipes of the same cross section as said first-named pipes forming suction conduits individual to each lading receiving conduit, and common suction nozzle means connected to both said individual suction conduits, said suction conduits converging toward each other for connection to said nozzle means and being curved tangential to said lading receiving conduits whereby to avoid the formation of angular intersections and consequent creation of turbulence in said conduits.
 2. Hopper discharge means according to claim 1 wherein said suction conduit means includes separate suction conduits connected to each end of said lading receiving conduits, and a pivoted damper in each said suction conduit near its connection with the corresponding lading receiving conduit, said dampers being arranged for actuation in unison.
 3. Hopper discharge means according to claim 2 including common actuating means for both said dampers in the suction conduits connected to each lading receiving conduit.
 4. Hopper discharge means according to claim 3 wherein said common actuating means comprises mounting shafts for said dampers, arms on said mounting shafts, and a transversely extending manually translatable bar pivotally connected to said arm for opening and closing both said dampers in unison.
 5. Hopper discharge means according to claim 1 including a horizontal frame supporting said opening forming means, said gate being slidable longitudinally of said frame between an outlet-closing and an outlet-open position, a pair of toggle links including a first link pivoted at one end to said gate and a second link pivoted at its one end to the end of said first link remote from said gate and at its other end to said frame, said links being substantially aligned in the direction of movement of said gate when said gate is closed, a gear mounted on said other end of said second link, a pinion pivoted to said frame and engaging said gear, and means for applying manual force to said pinion for rotating the same and thereby actuating said toggle links.
 6. Hopper discharge means according to claim 5 wherein the pivoted connection of said one link to said gate is in the central region of said gate.
 7. Hopper discharge means according to claim 5 wherein said last-named means comprises a lever-receiving socket on said pinion.
 8. Hopper discharge means according to claim 7 including a capstan on said one end of said second link. 